Are Catholics losing their faith?

A new survey by an evangelical research group praises Catholics as overcoming their immigrant, minority status of decades ago but then concludes they are losing moral and spiritual fervor.

The Barna Group’s survey was released today and says Catholics were half as likely as others to cite their faith as life’s top priority.

And only 44 percent of Catholics said they were “absolutely committed” to the Christian faith compared to 54 percent of all U.S. adults in the survey.

Their giving, reading the Bible regularly and talking publicly about their faith lagged behind the average. Attending church services and praying during the week before exceeded the average.

The report, which has a margin of error of 1.7 percent and was based on a survey of 4,014 adults, raises concerns from its director George Barna.

He praised their ability to adapt and succeed from a largely immigrant population to one that makes up much of mainstream America. But he said they have “largely lost touch with much of their substantial spiritual heritage.”

“They retain an appreciation for tradition and consistency, but have much less of a commitment to knowing and practicing the commands of Christ.”